Pat Jones is preparing for crowds Friday heading in for Rochester's Fire and Ice Festival.

"It gives us a big spike in business," said Jones, dining room manager at Kruse and Muer on Main restaurant.

The Fire and Ice Festival in downtown Rochester, sponsored by Oakland County and Rochester Downtown Development, heats up the city tonight, Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free to the event that welcomes people to enjoy outdoor activities such as sliding down a tubing hill and roasting marshmallows. This year, as opposed to last, carved ice sculptures will be on display.

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Temperatures were so warm at the end of last January (2012), the festival had to be postponed until February. Even then, temperatures weren't chilly, officials recalled.

Watch a report on the Rochester Fire and Ice Festival during today's News at Noon.

This year, machinery was brought into make snow, and the festival will have its wintry feel.

Tonight's temperatures will be in the high teens to 20, Saturday's temperatures will hit the high 20s and Sunday climb to 30.

Fireworks -- the fire section of the festival -- will take place at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights.

A tubing hill with three runs beckons at East Third and Water streets, east of downtown.

"Streetscapes on Main Street have been redone, so people who haven't been here will see a fresh new look," said Stephanie Hellebuyck, events coordinator with Rochester Downtown Development.

Businesses welcomes the shoppers.

"The (festival) happens right when it's cold and it's nice because people come in and buy hats," said Jessica Loper, sales associate at The Ski Company on Main Street.

"It generates traffic." People often come back to the store later on and shop for additional items, she said.

People have submitted names for a Fire and Ice mascot and the top three submission will go to a vote on tonight and Saturday in the warming tent and Tastefest/beer tent. The winner will be announced Saturday evening before the fireworks, officials said.

Jones at Kruse and Muer said the buildings downtown will be aglow with colored lights, just as they were during the holidays.

"It's a good, fun family event," he said.

Contact Carol Hopkins at 248-745-4645 or carol.hopkins@oakpress.com. Follow her on Twitter @OPCarolHopkins or on Facebook @OPcarolhopkins.

FYI

Rochester's Fire and Ice Festival runs 6-9 p.m. tonight, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. The event features a tubing hill, dog sled rides, ice carving demonstrations, marshmallow roasting, ice skating rink (bring your own skates), snow shoeing and cross country skiing, music, a Tastefest and beer tent at East Third and Water streets. Admission is free. A spaghetti dinner will be held at the Rochester Fire Department. A free shuttle is available at Buffalo Wild Wings Rochester at 1234 Walton Road, east of Livernois. The pick-up and drop-off location in Rochester is west of Water Street, across from Rochester Mills Beer Co. Call 248-656-0060 or visit www.downtownrochestermi.com/events/fireandice.